Control of the Bistable Molecular Reorientation Angle in a Nematic Liquid-Crystal-Light-Valve

Abstract

We show experimentally that optical localized structures can be stored as elementary optical pixels lying on matrices that are impressed in a small pretilt angle of the nematics contained in a Liquid-Crystal-Light-Valve. The molecular reorientation, which is induced by an optical feedback, is bistable and may be controlled by a suitable phase profile superimposed on the input laser beam.

Keywords:

• liquid crystal light valves
• localized structures
• pattern control

Acknowledgments

U. Bortolozzo acknowledges financial support from the FUNFACS European project, n. 2005-004/004868.